Method to Partition Between Attached and Unattached E. coli in Runoff From Agricultural Lands1

Abstract: Remediation of waters impaired by bacterial indicators is usually dictated by total maximum daily load plans, which are heavily dependent on fate and transport modeling of bacterial indicators. Nonpoint source pollution models are most frequently used to assess bacterial transport to surface waters and most models typically simulate bacterial transport as a dissolved pollutant. Previous studies have found that cells preferentially attach to sediments; however, a variety of techniques have been used to assess attachment including filtration, fractional filtration, and centrifugation. In addition, a variety of chemical and physical dispersion techniques are used to release attached and bioflocculated cells from particulates. Here we developed and validated an easy‐to‐replicate laboratory procedure for separation of unattached from attached E. coli which will also identify particle sizes to which E. coli preferentially attach. Physical and chemical dispersion techniques were evaluated and a combined hand shaker treatment for 10 min followed by dilutions in 1,000 mg/l of Tween 85 significantly increased total E. coli concentrations by 31% when compared with a control. In order to separate unattached from attached fractions, two commonly used techniques, fractional filtration, and centrifugation were combined. The filtration and centrifugation treatments did not reduce E. coli concentrations when compared with a control (p > 0.05), indicating that damage was not inflicted upon the E. coli cells during the separation procedure.     

Decomposition of paper wastes in presence of ceramics and cement raw material

Paper recycling is an environmental important activity that is carried out in all the countries, but during the recycling process a paper waste is produced. Generally these wastes are placed in landfill sites but it is possible to profit it as secondary fuel and raw material in manufacture furnaces.

In this work the combustion of the waste papers with cement and ceramic raw material has been studied with the objective to analyse the interaction of these substances with the emitted pollutants like PAHs and PCDD/Fs.

The results of the study show that the presence of inorganic material produces an increment in the lighter PAH emission but chlorinated compounds are not affected. The PCDD/F emission level found in the combustion of this waste is quite low compared with other wastes subjected to similar conditions.     

The sorption of heavy metal species by sediments in soakaways receiving urban road runoff

Infiltration facilities are designed for both the retention of non-point pollutants and the replenishment of groundwater in urban areas. In this study, sorption tests were conducted to evaluate the speciation of heavy metals and their behaviour in infiltration facilities receiving urban road runoff containing high DOC concentrations and stable heavy metal organic complexes. Road dust and three soakaway sediments were collected from heavy traffic areas and a residential area with an infiltration-type sewerage system in Tokyo, Japan. Sequential multiple batch tests were conducted by adding prepared road dust leachate (artificial road runoff) or deionised water to soakaway sediment to obtain soakaway sediment leachate (artificial percolating water from soakaway sediment), which mimicked the sorption by sediments in soakaways receiving urban road runoff. Heavy metal speciation was assessed by means of a combination of anion-exchange resin measurements and MINTEQA2 model calculations, and further validated by chelating resin measurements. In road dust leachates and soakaway sediment leachates, Cu predominantly existed as organic complexes and carbonates, whereas most Mn, Zn and Cd were found to exist in the form of free ions and carbonate complexes. Stable organic complexes of Cu in road dust leachates were strongly adsorbed by soakaway sediments despite the limited adsorption of DOC. On the other hand, desorption of free Mn, Zn and Cd ions from the sediment receiving road dust leachates was observed, indicating that heavy metals such as Mn, Zn and Cd may ultimately reach groundwater as free ions.     

Global fallout Pu recorded in lacustrine sediments in Lake Hongfeng, SW China

Studies on the distribution and isotope compositions of fallout Pu are important for source characterization of possible future non-fallout Pu contamination in aquatic environments, and useful for dating of recent sediments to understand the pollution history of environmental contaminants. We present the historical record of atmospheric Pu fallout reconstructed from a sediment core from Lake Hongfeng, China. The Pu activity profile was in agreement with the 137Cs profile. Inventories were 50.7 Bq m(-2) for 239+240Pu and 1586 Bq m(-2) for 137Cs. The average 240Pu/239Pu atom ratio was 0.185+/-0.009, indicating that Pu originated from global stratospheric fallout rather than from direct tropospheric or close-in fallout from the Chinese nuclear testing conducted in the 1970s. Our data suggested that Lake Hongfeng would be an ideal setting for monitoring atmospheric fallout and environmental changes in this region.     

生态土壤渗滤系统启动周期研究

利用室内模拟试验装置,考察了4种生态土壤渗滤系统在0.1 m3/(m2·d)的水力负荷条件下对生活污水中TP、COD和NH3-N的去除效果及启动周期; 同时对整个系统及同类生态工艺启动周期的判断方法做了探讨.研究结果表明,生态土壤渗滤系统对TP、COD和NH3-N的启动周期分别为15～27 d、24～40 d和24～26 d; 土壤渗滤系统对TP的启动周期最短,对COD的启动周期最长; 处理系统启动周期的判断原则是综合考察系统对主要污染物各自的启动周期,以最长的作为系统启动周期.4组试验中,1#和2#系统的启动周期为40 d; 3#和4#的为24 d.     

吴淞工业区大气降尘变化规律及趋势

吴淞工业区是重工业聚集区,烟(粉)尘的排放量非常大,造成该地区空气污染严重.为了解降尘的污染特征、变化规律及趋势,以近10 a监测数据为依据,运用方差分析等数理统计方法对工业区降尘量进行分析,检验不同季节降尘的差异并简要分析原因,使用秩相关系数法对其进行趋势分析.结果表明,工业区降尘量较混合区与清洁区明显不同; 工业区与混合区的降尘受本地源的影响较大,4季的降尘量没有明显差异,相反清洁区的4季降尘呈显著差异.10 a来工业区及其周边地区的降尘量下降了56%,说明环境综合整治取得了显著效果,使区域环境空气质量得到改善.     

新疆矿区煤矿瓦斯排放现状与趋势分析

为获得新疆矿区当前生产规模对应的瓦斯排放基量,调查了研究矿区生产矿井的瓦斯排放现状.根据各矿区2004-2006年生产矿井的开采煤层、生产水平、生产规模和瓦斯排放等参数,对不同矿区和煤田进行了统计分析,计算了新疆矿区当前生产规模对应的瓦斯排放总量,同时对重点瓦斯防治矿区和一般瓦斯防治矿区进行了分类.调查结果表明,新疆矿区煤矿平均吨煤相对瓦斯涌出量由2004年的2.82m3/t增加到2006年的3.09 m3/t,呈逐年递增趋势; 新疆矿区2004-2006年的年平均瓦斯(CH4)排放量为1.05×108 m3/a;准南煤田(I)和塔北煤田(VI)的平均绝对瓦斯涌出量分别占全疆绝对瓦斯涌出总量的64.82%和15.19%,为相对瓦斯富集区,也是当前瓦斯防治的重点区域.按照矿区3年平均绝对瓦斯涌出量(大于1.00m3/min)或平均相对瓦斯涌出量(大于5m3/t)将新疆矿区分为重点瓦斯防治矿区和一般瓦斯防治矿区,并提出了瓦斯分类治理的具体建议.应用灰色系统理论,结合调查数据分别求解了新疆矿区原煤产量与绝对瓦斯涌出量的GM[1,1]预测模型.本研究为新疆煤炭资源后续规模开发过程中的相关环境决策和节能减排政策的实施提供了依据.     

危险品道路运输泄漏引发水污染事故的定量风险评估方法研究

介绍了由道路交通事故引发的地表水污染事故风险定量分析方法,重点分析了突发水污染事故源发生概率和危害后果表征方法.以评价水域内道路危险品运输泄漏事故发生概率为水污染事故源发生概率.污染事故后果危害水平的表征:1)敏感区(点)最高浓度; 2)敏感区(点)超标总历时;3)水质超标的范围(如超标河流长度).评估方法为陆源造成的突发水污染事故的预防管理与应急计划的制订实施提供了科学依据.     

Mechanical Property Characterization of Plasticized Sugar Beet Pulp and Poly(Lactic Acid) Green Composites Using Acoustic Emission and Confocal Microscopy

Sorbitol and glycerol were used to plasticize sugar beet pulp-poly(lactic acid) green composites. The plasticizer was incorporated into sugar beet pulp (SBP) at 0%, 10%, 20%, 30% and 40% w/w at low temperature and shear and then compounded with poly(lactic acid) (PLA) using twin-screw extrusion and injection molding. The SBP:PLA ratio was maintained at 30:70. As expected, tensile strength decreased by 25% and the elongation increased. Acoustic emission (AE) showed correlated debonding and fracture mechanisms for up to 20% w/w plasticizer and uncorrelated debonding and fracture for 30–40% sorbitol and 30% glycerol content in SBP–PLA composites. All samples had a well dispersed SBP phase with some aggregation in the PLA matrix. However, at 40% glycerol plasticized SBP–PLA composites exhibited unique AE behavior and confocal microscopy revealed the plasticized SBP and PLA formed a co-continuous two phase system.

Emission Inventory for an Industrial Area of India

The paper presents an emission inventory for Cochin, which is a highly industrialized area situated in the southern part of India. A proper emission inventory is very important for planning pollution control programmes, particularly in coastal sites like Cochin, where environmental situations are of growing concern owing to their typical meterorological conditions. In a systematic way the sources are broadly classified as point, line and area sources. The data on emissions from industries, fuel consumption for vehicular and domestic activities along with the respective emission factors are used for estimating the emissions. The study reveals that industrial sources are mainly responsible for emissions of particulate matter, oxides of sulphur and ammonia in the region. Automobiles are the prime sources of hydrocarbons, oxides of nitrogen and carbon monoxide emitting 95%, 77% and 70% respectively of their total emissions, while the contribution from domestic sources is not very significant.